Melodies From Melodia: leading artists will honor the memory of the legendary Brazilian singer-songwriter Luiz Melodia (who passed away on August 4, 2017) in a one-night only acoustic concert. Melodia was one of the most talented Brazilian singer-songwriters from Rio de Janeiro; his powerful compositions fluently blended elements from samba, rock, jazz, blues, soul, and reggae, and his soulful and unique voice made him one of the most authentic and captivating artists in performance.

Throughout his career, Melodia released 16 albums and performed extensively on important stages around the world, including in Châteauvallon, France (1987); at the III Folcalquier Music Festival (1992, France), at the Montreux Jazz Festival (on the banks of Lake Geneva, Switzerland in 2004), and in the Brazilian Summer Sessions at the traditional jazz house Bimhuis in Amsterdam. He sang “Aquele Abraço” at the opening ceremony for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. His last studio recording, entitled Zerima, recorded after a 13-year hiatus, won him the MPB Award (Brazilian Popular Music) in the category Best Singer. He remained an active performer until his passing in 2017 from bone marrow cancer.